New Girl in the Office (Part I)

Presented by the Government's Committee on Government Contracts, produced by On Film, Inc. and directed by Lewis Freedman. Starring Ed Asner, Lester Rawlins, Chase Crowley and Gail Fisher.
0547 PA8288 New Girl in the Office

What we really need is an ephemeral film on the difference between it's and its.

Yes, and how to spell 'definitely.' I never realized how utterly illiterate the average American was, until the Internet allowed the average American to go online and flaunt his poor education. As a teacher (of English), I'm appalled.

I noticed in this Docudrama, there was no mention of qualifications, or how there was someone who was more qualified but didnt get the job because it HAD to go to blacks. Why is that not discrimination?

My parents graduated from college around the time that short was made. My mother told me a story about being one of two women with masters in economics in the nation, and how should could not get a job as even a secretary in Washington D.C. because she was black. The short film was very moving as I thought about what my family went through during that period, and even the obstacles I had to face as a child dealing with that generation of Americans.

Tensions erupt at Dennis Industries when they decide to hire a ÂNegro girlÂ in the secretarial pool so they can bid on government contracts. Needless to say, the men feel no need to hire any blacks on their executive level, male or female. White male privilege is unassailable, but white womenÂs jobs are considered expendable. The male executives project their own prejudices onto the white female secretarial staff, who they expect (and secretly hope) will reject the new ÂgirlÂÂÂWomen are different! WeÂre asking for trouble!Â And why would the other ÂgirlsÂ object? Everyone knows whyÂÂThe girls wonÂt stand for itÂthe washrooms!Â The male executives take a strange interest in the female staffÂs restroom habits. In another Archive film, ÂCoffee Break,Â the men are similarly obsessed with the what the female staff do in the Ladies Room. Obviously, the so-called executive jobs these men hold couldnÂt be too demanding. They have an awful lot of time on their hands to grouse and speculate about the women.

Poor Mary Newton, who says ÂIÂd give my eye-teeth to work as a secretary . . . but everybody knows they donÂt hire Negroes,Â has the unenviable position of being the first Negro ÂgirlÂ to be hired. ÂWe donÂt give favors and we donÂt give preferential treatment,Â sheÂs told at her interview by a man whose entire career is predicated on the favors and preferential treatment that heÂs enjoyed as a white man. How will Mary fare? Stay tuned for Part II.

Pretty good docudrama for it's day about an office just about to hire it's first black woman for a secretary, and the ramifications it has in the office. It was quite surprising seeing the credit list and finding out that Ed Asner and Ford Rainey were in the production somewhere. The acting ranges from Very good to shaky, and the script sometimes can't veer above soap opera level. (The discussion which the new girl has with her family is pretty bad, as both actors seem to have arrived from a road production of 'Lilies Of The Field'.
All in all, an 'important' film I'm sure for it's time, but nowadays comes across as too forced and down your throatish (the pat they-all-lived-happily-ever-after ending is quite bad).
Great end credits though, Who knew tricky Dick cared so much?